Lebanon, New Hampshire — Following a busy season, Storrs Hill plans to grow the size of its lodge.
The Valley News reports that plans have been approved to grow the base lodge at Storrs Hill. Last Wednesday night, the Lebanon City Council approved a plan that will expand the lodge from its current perimeters. Completed in 1997, the small lodge currently features a lounge space with a fireplace, two bathrooms, and a kitchen/food outlet. In 2020, a pavillion was added to provide more outdoor space for social distancing during the pandemic. However, this portion of the lodge remains unfinished.
The lodge expansion will grow the interior space by 1,062 square feet, and an exterior deck will add 378 square feet. Some of the upgrades will include the completion and enclosure of the pavilion, growing the kitchen space, adding more bathrooms, installing more windows that will provide views of the slopes, and installing a fire sprinkler system. Enclosing the pavillion will add indoor space for sixty more people. The lodge project is expected to be completed in November 2026.
The project has an estimated cost of $550,000. The funding will be split three ways: $250,000 from the city, $25,000 from the Lebanon Outing Club (which operates the ski area), and a $275,000 Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) federal grant.
Other potential projects down the pipeline include an installation of a magic carpet for beginner skiers and updates to the K-50 ski jump. Long-term projects could consist of replacing the Poma surface lift, replacing the K-50 jump, and relocating the K-25 jump.
Situated off I-89 in Lebanon, Storrs Hill is one of the most historic ski hills in the United States. The Lebanon Outing Club, which runs Storrs Hill, was founded in 1923 thanks to Erling Heistad and some local high school students. In 1925, the first ski jump was constructed at Storrs Hill, and ski jumping has remained a core tenet of the experience at the mountain.
Six years later, the first alpine trails were cut, and a rope tow was installed in 1935. In the 1970s, a Poma lift was installed, which services the ski area today. Over the decades, the ski hill has become a pivotal learning location for skiers, snowboarders, and ski jumpers. Legendary ski racer Mikaela Shiffrin also trained there back when she lived in New England. Click here to read the full history of the ski hill.
Last season saw free skiing and riding for everyone at Storrs Hill thanks to a donation by the Jack and Dorothy Byrne Foundation. It’s unclear whether that discount will continue for the 2025-26 season.
Image Credits: Storrs Hill
